Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
SADC Ministers of Energy and Water as well as regional technical experts have endorsed the fast-track implementation of three key regional projects meant to tackle worsening power shortages, water scarcity and the growing effects of climate change across the bloc.
The three projects include the Grand Inga Hydropower Project, the Congo River Water Transfer Initiative and a portfolio of clean cooking energy initiatives.
The renewed commitment came out during a High-Level Ministerial Dialogue held in Harare yesterday, which brought together Government officials, SADC technical experts and international development partners.
The meeting focused on finding long-delayed but transformative solutions to the region’s power and water infrastructure deficits.
Addressing the meeting, SADC Executive Secretary Mr Elias Magosi urged member states to move with speed in implementing the projects, especially the Congo River project, which has been under discussion for more than half a century.
“The Congo project has been with us for some 50 years,” he said. “Some of us were born into it, and we are still talking about it. Let us make sure we are not still talking about it 10 years from now. We are here to make history. We are here to make a difference.”
The Grand Inga Hydropower Project, located on the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is one of the largest proposed energy projects in the world.
Once completed, it is expected to produce more than 42 000 megawatts of electricity, enough to power much of sub-Saharan Africa.
The Grand Inga project also includes plans for a regional transmission corridor linking DRC with Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa, offering a long-term solution to the region’s persistent power deficits and contributing to cross-border energy trade under the Southern African Power Pool.
The Congo River Water Transfer Concept is a complementary initiative that proposes diverting part of the Congo River’s massive water flow to drought-prone areas in the SADC region, such as the Zambezi Basin.
The goal is to stabilise hydropower generation, especially at Kariba Dam and secure long-term water supplies for agriculture, industry and domestic use.
Mr Magosi also highlighted the need for member states to align infrastructure investments with local food and energy production, particularly through smallholder and clustered agriculture models.
Dr Patrice Kabeya, senior programme officer for water at the SADC Secretariat, said the Grand Inga and Congo River Water Transfer projects are part of a broader integrated regional strategy addressing energy, water, agriculture and climate resilience.
“The Congo River Water Transfer and Grand Inga are not standalone ideas,” he said. “They are part of SADC’s integrated infrastructure and climate resilience agenda.
“We are building on international support such as the Saudi-African-Israeli Water-Based Action Plan and pushing for concrete outcomes.”
Engineer Christopher Chisense of the Zambezi River Authority presented data from an ongoing study on the Congo River Water Transfer and Hydropower Project.
He said declining inflows into Lake Kariba have severely affected power generation in Zimbabwe and Zambia.
“In good years, Kariba recorded inflows of up to 60 gigahertz. Last year, we had only 20. The Congo River, with an average flow of more than 1 000 cubic meters per second, offers a stable alternative for regional water and energy supply,” Eng Chisense said.
